The demonstration aimed to protest a memorial ceremony honoring Ebrahim Raisi, the former president of Iran’s regime, who recently passed away in a helicopter crash on May 19, 2024.
The rally, organized by various opposition groups, including the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), was a powerful condemnation of Raisi’s extensive record of human rights violations. Demonstrators chanted slogans denouncing the Iranian regime and its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei while calling for justice for the victims of Raisi’s brutal tenure. Holding placards bearing the faces of thousands of political prisoners executed by Raisi, protesters voiced their outrage against the UN’s decision to host a memorial for such a controversial figure.
“UN, UN shame on you!” echoed through the streets as the protesters marched near the UN headquarters. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the NCRI, addressed the crowd, emphasizing the UN’s repeated condemnations of the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses. “How can Western governments turn a blind eye to the continued crimes of this regime against the people of Iran?” she questioned, highlighting the perceived hypocrisy in honoring Raisi.
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7- #NewYork, May 30th, 2024: Iranian Americans and supporters of #MEK protest the planned memorial for Ebrahim #Raisi at the @UN. They urge support for the resistance of the Iranian people for #IranRegimeChange. #RaisiMassMurderer #1988Massacre #FreeIran2024 pic.twitter.com/OkNE26ThB6— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) May 30, 2024
Ebrahim Raisi, who served as Iran’s president from 2021 until his death, was notorious for his role in the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988. As a member of the “Death Commission,” Raisi was implicated in the execution of approximately 30,000 dissidents, a dark chapter that has garnered international condemnation.
His tenure also saw the violent suppression of protests in 2019 and 2022, further solidifying his reputation as a violator of human rights. The decision to hold a memorial for Raisi at the UN has sparked significant backlash from human rights organizations and politicians worldwide.
Hasn't the @UN condemned the Iranian regime 70 times for violating #HumanRights? Isn't it the world's leading record holder for executions? Hasn't this regime committed crimes against humanity, as attested by lawyers and human rights defenders, including Amnesty International? So… pic.twitter.com/pqjkRQGWjI
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) May 28, 2024
On May 29, a U.S. official informed Reuters, “We won’t attend this event in any capacity. Some of the worst human rights abuses on record, especially against the women and girls of Iran, took place during his tenure.” This sentiment was echoed by many countries, resulting in a largely empty hall during the UN General Assembly’s tribute.
While some world leaders expressed condolences for Raisi’s death, the overwhelming reaction has been one of disapproval and condemnation. The memorial ceremony has been criticized as an affront to the victims of Raisi’s regime and a misstep by the UN in acknowledging the atrocities committed under his leadership.
Disgrace at the @UN: Memorial for a Tyrant
UN’s shocking homage to Ebrahim Raisi, "Butcher of Tehran," wasn’t just shameful; it was a grotesque farce. How can dialogue on human rights occur in a chamber that pays tribute to a #massmurderer involved in the #1998Massacre in #Iran?… pic.twitter.com/QCHUtt9T2U— Ali Safavi (@amsafavi) May 30, 2024
The protesters’ message was clear: honoring a figure with such a grievous record of human rights abuses is unacceptable. Their demonstration served as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and human rights in Iran, underscoring the need for the international community to stand in solidarity with the victims rather than the perpetrators of such crimes.
MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu
